Cadherin and catenin compose cell adhesion complex and are indispensable for tight cell-cell adhesion. Dysfunction of this adhesion complex causes dissociation of cancer cells from primary tumor nodules, thus possibly contributing to cancer invasion and metastasis (1). At least three proteins (alpha, beta, and gamma catenin) comprise the cytoplasmic domain of the cadherin cell-cell adhesion complex. Data, with the reported structure of other catenin genes, suggest that vinculin and alpha-catenin generate a superfamily of proteins mediating membrane-cytoskeletal associations (2). Presenilin-1 (PS1) overexpression in human kidney cells enhances cell-cell adhesion and data show that PS1 incorporates into the cadherin/catenin adhesion system and regulates cell-cell adhesion. PS1 concentrates at intercellular contacts in epithelial tissue; in brain, it forms complexes with both E- and N-cadherin and concentrates at synaptic adhesions (3).

Immunocytochemistry/ Immunofluorescence-alpha 1 Catenin antibody [EP1793Y](TA300925); ICC/IF image of TA300925 stained HeLa cells. The cells were 4% formaldehyde fixed (10 min) and then incubated in 1%BSA / 10% normal goat serum / 0.3M glycine in 0.1% PBS-Tween for 1h to permeabilise the cells and block non-specific protein-protein interactions. The cells were then incubated with the antibody overnight at +4°C. The secondary antibody (green) was Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L) used at a 1/1000 dilution for 1h. Alexa Fluor 594 WGA was used to label plasma membranes (red) at a 1/200 dilution for 1h. DAPI was used to stain the cell nuclei (blue) at a concentration of 1.43uM.

Flow Cytometry - alpha 1 Catenin antibody [EP1793Y]; Overlay histogram showing MCF7 cells stained with TA300925 (red line). The cells were fixed with 4% PFA (10 min) and then permeabilized with 0.1% PBS-Tween for 20 min. The cells were then incubated in 1x PBS / 10% normal goat serum / 0.3M glycine to block non-specific protein-protein interactions followed by the antibody for 30 min at 22°C. The secondary antibody used was DyLight 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L) at 1/500 dilution for 30 min at 22°C. Isotype control antibody (black line) was rabbit IgG (monoclonal) (1ug/1x10^6 cells) used under the same conditions. Acquisition of >5,000 events was performed. This antibody gave a positive signal in MCF7 cells fixed with 80% methanol (5 min)/permeabilized in 0.1% PBS-Tween used under the same conditions.